Electric switch or cut-out



(No Model.)

B. R. KNOWLES.

ELEOTRIG SWITCH 0R GUT-OUT.

No. 396,880. Patented Jan. 29, 1889.

UNITED STATES l rricn.

PATENT ELECTRIC SWITCH OR CUT-OUT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 396,880, dated January29, 1889. Application filed Septemb er 14, 1888. Serial No. 285,389. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD R. KNOWLES, a citizen of the United States,residing in Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful ln'i nrovements in Electric Switches orCut-Outs, of which the following is a specification.

The invention has reference to electric switches or cutouts of thatparticular class in which the make and break of the circuitisaccomplished by a quick movement to prevent injurious sparking. Thisgeneral form of switch being well known in the art, I do not claim itbroadly, but confine myself to my specific construction and itssubstantial equivalents,

Referring to the drawings, li igures 1 and represent views in elevationof single and double pole-switches, respectively. Fig. 3 rep resents aside view of the double pole-switch, and Fig. t represents 2" sectionthrough the center post.

An important .t'eature olT this invention. is that it provides a switchof small comparative cost, and to explain this the details of the mannerof forming and putt ing the parts together will be explained.

To the base A is seeured,by screws or otherwise, a nut, (I, having anannular shoulder, a. A central pin or post, h,havingtwo shoulders, 1)if, at its upper end, and a threaded shank passes down tlufongh the nutand the base until the limiting-shoulder i) rests upon the extendedportion of the nut. Theoperating-lever d is located between the flange Uand the nut, while the circuit-controlling arm e is placed between thein ierating-lever and the nut. The opcratingdever thus swings upon thepost I), while the (ircuit-controlling arm turns upon the extended portion of the nut. Both parts, therefore, may move independenily of eachother, while the construct ion is such thatbiinling .is impossible. Thepost is held in position by a clampin g-nut, c, which also binds theline-wire. By this construction I am also enabled to tighten up thebearing to compensate for wear. The knob with hole is for the purpose ofinserting a pin with which to turn the screw.

The operating-leveris represented by (7. It is loosely mounted upon theshaft, and has ff and f f.

formed upon it two lateral and downwardlyextending arms, (1 d, whichradiate from the center upon each side of the arm.

6 represents the circuit-controlling arm. It is also loose upon itsbearing, but connected with the operating-arm (Z by a spring, 6. Thespring is connected with the upper end of the lever (Z and at anysuitable point between the extremities of the arm 6.

The terminal contacts are represented by I prefer to make each of thecontacts in the form of springs bearing toward each other and thecircuit-eontrolling arm, similar to a knife-blade.

The means which I have provided for lockin g the eircuit-controlling armin. either of its positions is a spring, g, of circular for-n1, securedto the base concentrically with the pivot of the operating-lever. Oneside of the spring is bent upward, as shown, and at the center of itshighest portion a lug or catch, g, is attached. The circuit-con trolling arm, when in either of its normal positions, is on one side or theother of this catch, and it s position cannot be changed until thespring is pressed downward. to remove the catch from the path of thearm. This is accomplished by the lateral extensions on theoperating-lever, which ride upon the spring and press the raised portiondownward, thus carryin the catch below the plane of thecircuit-controlling arm.

The circuits are simple and easily followed on reference to thedrawings.

The opera-tioi'l of the switch is obvious. Sup posing thecircuiteontrolling arm to be locked upon either side of the catch g, toreverse the switch the lever is moved in the proper direction. to expandthe spring e. At the same time one of the lateral extensions (1approaches the elevated portion olspring g. The motions are regulatedsothat the circuit-controlling arm will be released when the propertension. has been put upon spring e. The arm then snaps over and changesthe circuit.

It will thus be seen that I have provided. a switch that is emnomieallymanufactured, inasmuch as its principal parts maybe stamped out and bentinto shape. The switch is also very efficient.

Having now deseribml my invention, I claim 1. Thema1inally operatedlover and the circuit-controlling bar pivoted loosely, a circularspring-plate placed concentrically with the pivot 01 theoperating-lever, a pair of lugs attached to the operating-lever,arranged to ride 5 upon said spring-plate, and a latch secured to thespring-plate for the circuit-controlling bar.

2. The manually-operated lever and the cireuit-controlling bar pivotedloosely and connected by a Spring, a circular spring-plate re placedconcentrically with the pivot of the operated lever, a pair of lugsattached to the 1 operating-lever, arranged to ride upon saidspring-plate, and a latch secured to the springplate for thecircuit-controlling' bar.

ETHVARD R. KNOXVLES.

\Vitnesses:

WM. A ROSENBAUM, FRANK C. GRUER.

